would you take a pay cut?

[uscuba2]

would you take a 10k pay cut or keep the same salary just to get your foot in the door?

[zarapipe]

A lot more goes into that answer than you are giving. Can you give us specifics?

[mollz007]

I would need more information because my answeer would depend on a lot of things, like how financially stable you are, how you feel about your job now, if there will be a raise, etc.

[Deleted]

Well the way how you worded it, your foot is going to be in the door with the same salary or a 10K paycut. So of course, I wouldn't pick a paycut.

[Deleted]

It would depend on if I could afford to do so, what getting into the new company would mean, how soon I'd be able to recoup that cut, if any additional benefits were offered that would make up for the cut.

[Deleted]

Dude. Didn't we just do this the other day? The quesiton can't be answered without many more details.

[aspentosh]

This seems like a very odd question because of the lack of details...

[aspentosh]

Jan 31, 2013 12:29:04 GMT -5 @missy1 said:

Well the way how you worded it, your foot is going to be in the door with the same salary or a 10K paycut. So of course, I wouldn't pick a paycut.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that read it that way.

[uscuba2]

I am currently making 58k (not great) and I told them I was at 62k. I had interview where they liked me but I was over their top dollar by 12k. I said there was some flex (just not 12k) but it was dependant on the over all package. At which point they informed me that they wanted to pass my resume over to another team that would more in that range and would be back in touch.

I have no problem taking the same pay but that steep seem to be point less.

[thatgirl2478]

I had to. I had a contract making 60/hr - budget cuts made it so that I was going to be let go - but then they 'found' some money in another team & brought me back at 45/hr. It sucks - but I have a job. I just accepted a more 'permanent' contract job (same company) with more responsibility, so hopefully I'll be bumped back up... but I'm not holding my breath.

[aspentosh]

Jan 31, 2013 12:44:12 GMT -5 @vicmo said:

1) You lied and said you make $4k than you make?
2) Can you afford to work for 50k?
3) I don't really understand the "get your foot in the door" comment. If you are currently in a bad situation, and you think the new job will be better for reasons other than salary, then it might be worth taking a pay cut. See the post from, like, yesterday for other comments on that.

Yup.

[mollz007]

Why do you want to switch jobs? Is this a total career change?

[Deleted]

Lying about your current salary, something that is regularly confirmed in the hiring process is a poor, poor idea. I always focus on what I'm looking for $ wise.

I have taken a pay cut (10%) to get a job that I wanted. I'd do it again too. I also have taken a pay cut because I needed the job. That kind sucks.

[Deleted]

Jan 31, 2013 12:50:13 GMT -5 mollz007 said:

Why do you want to switch jobs? Is this a total career change?

Yes, let's start with this.  And shame on you for lying b/c they may ask for ck stubs for proof.

[mollz007]

To answer your OP, I would take a pay cut if

1) H and I agreed we could afford it
2) The benefits were as good or better than my current job
3) There was a potential for a raise

aand

3) The new job would make me happier at work

[Muddled]

Why are you leaving your job?

[Deleted]

But with no facts my answer would be. I would take a pay cut 10k, 15k, 20k under 2 conditions.

One, that I could afford it and that it made me happy. I took a 10k cut before. My happiness/work life balance is priceless.

ETA:  Oh and I guess you can say I actually have taken a bigger cut before.  I once quit a job with nothing lined up b/c I was miserable and cried every single day.  But I had no mortgage, no kids and I could have afforded it.  It took me 3 months but I found something that made me very happy (it was lower pay but that was a-ok).

[uscuba2]

Jan 31, 2013 12:51:41 GMT -5 vigurl said:

Jan 31, 2013 12:50:13 GMT -5 mollz007 said:

Why do you want to switch jobs? Is this a total career change?

Yes, let's start with this.  And shame on you for lying b/c they may ask for ck stubs for proof.

The company and dept that i am in is smaller (300 ee). My dept is 10 people and none of which are going anywhere. So lack vertical advancement.
How about shame on employers thinking it is ok pick and chose who thy hire based on what they currently make. your employer is going to lie to you from the day they make an offer. Because you and I both know they not going to offer you the most they are willing to pay you. Second, I have never been asked for pay stubs EVER as these no commissions jobs. By LAW in Illinois, your company can not give it out ( mine does not any way). there is no obligation to provide it in any state and you are fool if you do provide pay stubs.

[aspentosh]

Someone's feisty.

Just because they haven't asked for a pay stub in the past doesn't mean they can't or won't in the future.

Also, how is turning down a job for too low a salary any different than a company not offering a position because they can't meet your salary requirement?

[Deleted]

Lol at "shame on employers for picking you based on what you currently make". It's probably because they have this thing called a "budget" where they only can pay so much, and they are not going to hire someone who is outside of that range. And because (as your question demonstrates), if they can't pay what the person was currently making, the person is not very likely to accept the offer, which makes it a waste of time for everyone.

To answer your OP - in theory, I would take a 10k pay cut if it meant moving to a company that had room for advancement, if my job was at risk, or if I was truly miserable in my current job and this was the only way I could get a job I could enjoy/at least tolerate.

In my current position/life, the answer would be no. I can't afford a paycut on my current budget and I'm not in an unstable or miserable job. I would like a better position and more room for growth, but now is not the right time - for me - to make a move that results in a pay cut.

[Deleted]

I have been honest with potential employers in regards to my salary. Saying I am prepared to take a pay cut for the positions, experience, etc as I see growth potential. I ask them what the range they are looking to pay and then decide whether it is acceptable. I do this without lying and without telling them what I am currently making.

[Deleted]

Jan 31, 2013 13:40:45 GMT -5 uscuba2 said:

Jan 31, 2013 12:51:41 GMT -5 vigurl said:

Yes, let's start with this.  And shame on you for lying b/c they may ask for ck stubs for proof.

The company and dept that i am in is smaller (300 ee). My dept is 10 people and none of which are going anywhere. So lack vertical advancement.
How about shame on employers thinking it is ok pick and chose who thy hire based on what they currently make. your employer is going to lie to you from the day they make an offer. Because you and I both know they not going to offer you the most they are willing to pay you. Second, I have never been asked for pay stubs EVER as these no commissions jobs. By LAW in Illinois, your company can not give it out ( mine does not any way). there is no obligation to provide it in any state and you are fool if you do provide pay stubs.

Then you just take jobs at shitty places b/c I extend job offers all day long.  Been doing it for years.  I ALWAYS ask what someone is making at the initial interview to make sure we are wasting time.  But the # the give has absolutely NO bearing on what I offer salary wise. We have a budget and that along with what people in the same role is currently making decides their pay.

Oh and yes we cant demand from an a candidates employer pay info (illegal) but we can and have asked for pay check stubs. We have also rescinded offers (after the candidate gave their 2 week notice) to people who lied about what they are making.

[definitelyO]

I have taken a $10k pay cut.

I left a job I hated with a horrible commute and an @sshole boss that was going down the drain. I got a job 4 miles from my house and a position that I only had peripheral experience in. I took the paycut for a better quality of life and the work experience.

I have now been at this job for 5.5 years and in 2012 made ~$40,000 MORE than what I was making at my old job. win-win for me

[mrsfarmer]

Um, if you lied this is not a 10K paycut, only 8K, or am I missing something?